Scan barcode
A review by fifi99
Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Queen by Alix Kates Shulman
4.0
I'm surprised I enjoyed this book as much as I did.
I read this for uni (as I am currently doing a project on famous texts of second wave feminism) and, although this is fiction, I could easily believe that I was reading an entry of a bored suburban housewife straight out of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique.
Sasha's struggles with her sexuality in this book are very relatable and Shulman manages to articulate the fear of sexual assault. Shulam contrats the empowerment of saying no and standing up for yourself with the fear of what will happen if you do say no which I think is a struggle all women can relate to and/or have personally experienced.
The only thing I didn't like about this book is that I did get a little bored hearing about Sasha when she is a married woman. I preferred reading about Sasha's experiences in suburban Ohio and the trials and tribulations that come with being a teenager girl. Maybe this is because I, myself am not a 30 year woman with kids and so I don't understand what it is like, but I found myself enjoying Sasha's story more as a rebellious teenager/young adult as opposed to a depressed housewife.
I also absolutely love the cover of this book and think it would fit well with other stories, such as The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin or Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.
Overall,
⭐⭐⭐⭐
OR
I read this for uni (as I am currently doing a project on famous texts of second wave feminism) and, although this is fiction, I could easily believe that I was reading an entry of a bored suburban housewife straight out of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique.
Sasha's struggles with her sexuality in this book are very relatable and Shulman manages to articulate the fear of sexual assault. Shulam contrats the empowerment of saying no and standing up for yourself with the fear of what will happen if you do say no which I think is a struggle all women can relate to and/or have personally experienced.
The only thing I didn't like about this book is that I did get a little bored hearing about Sasha when she is a married woman. I preferred reading about Sasha's experiences in suburban Ohio and the trials and tribulations that come with being a teenager girl. Maybe this is because I, myself am not a 30 year woman with kids and so I don't understand what it is like, but I found myself enjoying Sasha's story more as a rebellious teenager/young adult as opposed to a depressed housewife.
I also absolutely love the cover of this book and think it would fit well with other stories, such as The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin or Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.
Overall,
⭐⭐⭐⭐
OR